Nurses do a lot for us. They are highly-trained, skilled professionals who care for our sick and disabled. A nurse helps to educate patients about healthy living as well as any current or chronic disease treatments. He or she also performs procedures as prescribed by physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners. These responsibilities are just a sliver of what nurses do on a daily basis. Plus, they do it all with a smile on their faces!

My mother has been a Registered Nurse for a well-respected hospital organization in Chicago for over 30 years. She loves her job. She loves her patients and her coworkers. When I’ve visited her at work in the past, it has been evident to me that most of the hospital’s nurses are quite similar to my mother. They all genuinely care about the people they are treating or caring for. The passion that nurses bring to their places of work, whether it’s a large hospital organization or a small, independent care facility, is rare in this day and age. The fact that they remain so kind, helpful and sincere over decades of employment is a testament to them. It is truly inspiring.

The least we can do is say thank you to these nurses for what they do for us, their patients, their coworkers and the organizations who employ them. In 1965, the International Council of Nurses selected a full week in May to celebrate the efforts of nurses around the work. Every year since, Nurses Week has been celebrated from May 6 to May 12. The week culminates in “Nurses Day” on May 12th, which is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is considered to be the founder of modern nursing.

So what can you do to celebrate Nurses Week?

The theme for Nurse’s Week 2011 has been recently announced by the American Nurses Association as ‘Nurses Trusted to Care’. Simply put, we trust these men and women to take care of us. Award Concepts provides a customized approach to recognizing your staff during this special week in May. Our in-house manufacturing capabilities enable us to create unique emblems and pins specifically made for your hospital or organization. Contact us today for more information.

The simplest way you can show your appreciation for the wonderful women and men that serve as nurses: thank them. Thank any nurses you might know for their services or even reach out to nurses or nurses’ aides at your local doctor’s office.